Issues

Note

NOTE: THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO A NON-BINDING CONCURRENT BUDGET RESOLUTION THAT SETS THE FUNDING LEVEL FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. IT IS NOT SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT AND THEREFORE DOES NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF LAW, BUT IS USED AS A GUIDE FOR CONGRESS AS IT PASSES THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION AND OTHER BILLS.

Stage Details

Vote Result

Yea Votes

Nay Votes

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to waive the budget act to provide for consideration of an amendment to establish a one-year moratorium on earmarks.

Highlights:

Defines "earmark" as language providing a specific amount of spending authority for a specific state, locality, or congressional district, other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process.

Defines a "limited tariff benefit" as a tariff modification applying to ten or fewer entities.

Provides that the consideration of legislation that contains earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits is out of order, and prevents the legislation from being considered unless the point of order is waived by a two-thirds vote or the out of order sections are removed.

Applies this moratorium to the 2009 fiscal year only.

Note:

NOTE: A MOTION TO WAIVE THE BUDGET ACT, IF ADOPTED, TEMPORARILY SETS ASIDE A SPECIFIC PROVISION OF THE BUDGET ACT OF 1974 SO THAT AN AMENDMENT THAT VIOLATES THE ACT MAY BE CONSIDERED. A 3/5 MAJORITY IS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION.